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Lightolier Furniture

Founded in 1904 in New York and family-operated through most of its history, Lightolier was one of the pioneering American electric lighting companies, best known for its embrace of stylistic and technical innovations.

Collectors focus on vintage Lightolier lighting fixtures produced from the 1950s and into the 1970s, when an in-house design team led by Gerald Thurston — and a stellar cast of international design contributors — created an array of practical yet aesthetically lively table lamps, floor lamps, sconces and chandeliers.

Amidst the post-World War II building boom, Lightolier — the name combines “light” and “chandelier” — aggressively boosted its residential lighting division. Thurston, who was strongly influenced by the sleek designs of Gino Sarfatti and his Italian lighting firm Arteluce, towards simpler lamp designs that offered flexibility of function. His best-known designs include the Cricket task light — a lamp with an adjustable enameled metal hood that toggles on a slender bent-metal base — and the three-legged Tripod floor lamp. At the same time, Thurston had a wonderful eye for talent and sought work from some of the lesser-known greats of the era, such as Paavo Tynell, the Finnish lighting designer, who designed several brass chandeliers for Lightolier with his trademark elegant flamboyance.

And more, Thurston recognized abilities in designers not known for their work in lighting.

Edward Wormley, head of furniture design for Dunbar, produced several noteworthy chandeliers employing canisters and reflective hoods. Alvin Lustig was famed as a graphic designer. His ca. 1953 Ring ceiling fixture for Lightolier had a minimalist techno look some 30 years ahead of its time. But this was par. Designed by Michael Lax in 1964, the Lytegem high-intensity lamp — included in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art — features a ball-shaped shade attached with a chromed armature to a cubic base, a form that would be widely copied in the following decade. Chandeliers designed in the early 1970s by Gaetano Sciolari, with details such as acrylic diffusers and vertical, two-bulb arms, would define the look of lighting in their day.

A look through these pages reveals just how astonishingly wide a range of lighting pieces Lightolier produced. The company never flicked off its stylistic switch.

Find a collection of vintage Lightolier lamps and other lighting fixtures on 1stDibs.

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Creator: Lightolier
Dealer: WYETH
Japanese Style Grid Floor Lamp for Lightolier, 1970's
By Lightolier
Located in Sagaponack, NY
Four sided floor lamp evoking a Japanese Shoji screen. The frame of solid walnut set on an ebonized recessed plinth base with the frame having a...
Category

1970s American American Craftsman Vintage Lightolier Furniture

Materials

Birch, Walnut

Adjustable Brass Pendant for Lightolier
By Lightolier
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A fine brass adjustable ceiling fixture having a perforated dome shade and ring handle.
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Lightolier Furniture

Materials

Brass

Chandelier for Lightolier, 1969
By Lightolier
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A matte black metal ceiling fixture having straight slender arms extending outwardly from its vertical post in a spiral effect inspired by Poul Kjaerholm, circa 1960.
Category

1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Lightolier Furniture

Materials

Metal

Floor Lamp by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier
By Lightolier, Gerald Thurston
Located in Sagaponack, NY
Black enameled steel floor lamp with three brass arms holding a perforated steel reflector and shade.
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Lightolier Furniture

Materials

Brass, Steel

Torchere Floor Lamp by Gerald Thurston / Carl Moser for Lightolier, 1953
By Lightolier, Gerald Thurston
Located in Sagaponack, NY
Classic uplight torchère floor lamp with three vertical brass rods supporting a shallow brass bowl and wider glass shade. The base designed by Gerald Thurston with a textured, fire a...
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Lightolier Furniture

Materials

Brass

Hanging Pendant Lamp for Lightolier
By Lightolier
Located in Sagaponack, NY
An adjustable patinated brass pendant having as shapely perforated shade and frosted glass diffuser with a brass ring pull. Recoiled cable is concealed in the canopy.
Category

1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Lightolier Furniture

Materials

Brass

Modernist Wall Lamp for Lightolier
By Lightolier
Located in Sagaponack, NY
An unusual and expressive wall lamp having a ribbed milk glass diffuser with thin patinated steel sides suspended from a curved plane of birch.
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Lightolier Furniture

Materials

Steel

Related Items
Lightolier Yellow Chandelier, Mid-Century Modern
By Lightolier
Located in Fulton, CA
A canary yellow 5-light chandelier or pendant light by Lightolier. Can be installed as a pendant light with use of 8 foot chair or shortened to hang as a chandelier with desired depth achieved by shorting chain. Excellent original condition. Retains Lightolier paper label. Nice! Milk glass globes measure 6" diameter. Yellow chandelier...
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Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Lightolier Furniture

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1970s Lightolier floor lamp
By Lightolier
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Lightolier floor lamp, 1970s. Enameled composite metal head, chromed steel stem, enameled steel foot. 40 to 60 watt E-26 Edison medium base incandescent bulb or higher if LED/CFL. ...
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1970s Lightolier floor lamp
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Gerald Thurston Tripod Lamp for Lightolier
By Gerald Thurston, Lightolier
Located in San Diego, CA
The Lightolier Gerald Thurston Tripod Floor Lamp features sturdy adjoined tripod Brass legs, three solid Walnut sleeves, a white linen shade and...
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1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Lightolier Furniture

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Mid Century Adjustable Saucer Shade Floor Lamp by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier
By Gerald Thurston, Lightolier
Located in New York, NY
Iconic mid century floor lamp, designed by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier, circa 1950's. The lamp features an adjustable saucer shaped shade, with a brass arm, and disk form base. T...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Lightolier Furniture

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Gerald Thurston for Lightolier Brass Tripod Floor Lamp, 1950s
By Gerald Thurston, Lightolier
Located in Bainbridge, NY
Early Gerald Thurston for Lightolier Brass Tripod Reading Floor Lamp with White Linen Shade. Featuring a joined tripod, three legged patinated Brass framework, original Off-White ena...
Category

1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Lightolier Furniture

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1950s Paavo Tynell for Lightolier Tulip Eight-Light Brass Chandelier
By Paavo Tynell, Lightolier
Located in Farmington Hills, MI
We are very pleased to offer an exquisite eight-light chandelier attributed to the renowned Finnish designer Paavo Tynell in collaboration with Lightolier, circa the 1950s. The chan...
Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Lightolier Furniture

Materials

Metal, Brass

1970s Vintage Chrome "Eyeball" Shade Floor Lamp with 3 Shades
By Robert Sonneman, Koch & Lowy, Lightolier
Located in North Hollywood, CA
1970s Vintage chrome floor lamp with three pivoting "eyeball" globe shades. Vintage steel and chrome floor lamp featuring three adjustable chrome globe lights, individual chrome perforated shades, chrome stem on round chrome base, with three way switch. Directional lighting. A vintage floor lamp, in chrome with three globe-form lights, each light is hinged and pivots for a full range of motion. Takes standard base light bulbs. Each shade can tilt, pivot and swivel 360 degrees. Good Vintage Condition with original wiring with age appropriate wear; some scratches and spotting to chrome. Aside from a tiny scratch or two here and there the lamp is in amazing condition, it has far less wear than what you would expect for a 50 year old lamp. In vintage condition with wear consistent with age and use. circa 1960s-1970s. A vintage Mid-Century Modern chrome eyeball floor lamp in the style of Robert Sonneman, George Kovacs or Koch & Lowy, Florence Casey...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Lightolier Furniture

Materials

Steel, Chrome

12 Light "Ballerina" Chandelier by Paavo Tynell for Lightolier
By Paavo Tynell, Lightolier
Located in North Miami, FL
An amazing and hard to find "Ballerina" chandelier with twelve-arms designed by Finnish Paavo Tynell and produced by Lightolier in the 1960's. Very large 34 inch diameter fixture fe...
Category

1960s Canadian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Lightolier Furniture

Materials

Aluminum, Brass

Mid Century Brass Tear Drop Pendants attributed Paavo Tynell for Lightolier
By Paavo Tynell, Lightolier
Located in New York, NY
Sensational Brass Tear Drop Pendants attributed Paavo Tynell for Lightolier. The Pendants are solid brass with a three hole triangular perforated pattern design detail. The rounded...
Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Lightolier Furniture

Materials

Brass

Paavo Tynell for Lightolier, Large Brass Pendant Lamp/ Chandelier, 1950s
By Lightolier, Paavo Tynell
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Paavo Tynell for Lightolier, Large Brass Pendant Lamp/Chandelier, 1950s USA, 20th century An exceptional design, this Paavo Tynell for Lightolier Large Brass Pendant Lamp/Chandelier...
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Lightolier Attribution, Chandelier, Brass, Glass, USA, 1950s
By Lightolier
Located in High Point, NC
A brass and opaline glass chandelier attributed to Lightolier, USA, 1950s. Overall Dimensions (inches): 24” H x  26” Diameter Dimensions of Canopy:  6.25” diameter Bulb Specificat...
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Midcentury Vintage Louvered Lightolier Pendant Light
By Lightolier
Located in San Diego, CA
1960s louvered Lightolier dome pendant lamp in the style of Verner Panton. Sleek light gray beige enameled form features staggered concentric c...
Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Lightolier Furniture

Materials

Metal

Midcentury Vintage Louvered Lightolier Pendant Light
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$1,520 Sale Price
20% Off
H 10 in W 16 in D 16 in
Previously Available Items
1950s Torchère Floor Lamp by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier
By Lightolier, Gerald Thurston
Located in Sagaponack, NY
Classic uplight torchère floor lamp with three vertical brass rods supporting a shallow brass bowl and wider glass shade. The base designed by Gerald Thurston with a textured, fire a...
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Lightolier Furniture

Materials

Brass

1950s Desk Lamp by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier
By Lightolier, Gerald Thurston
Located in Sagaponack, NY
An elegant 'Profile' desk lamp by Lightolier. Three brass rods with walnut accents cross stacked at the waist by a brass ring each extending upward to support three shallow enameled ...
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Lightolier Furniture

Materials

Brass

1960s Chandelier by Paavo Tynell for Lightolier
By Lightolier, Paavo Tynell
Located in Sagaponack, NY
An eight-arm (8) chandelier with eight (8) metal, conical shaped uplights on baskets.
Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Lightolier Furniture

Materials

Metal

Hanging Cylindrical Glass Pendant Lamp
By Lightolier
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A well scaled cylindrical hanging pendant lamp having a clear etched glass shade encompassing an inner glass diffuser.
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Lightolier Furniture

Materials

Glass

1950s Modernist Chandelier by Edward Wormley for Lightolier
By Edward Wormley, Lightolier
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A well scaled and graphic modernist chandelier having a vividly lacquered steel dome and stem with three brushed aluminum conical uplights.
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Lightolier Furniture

Materials

Aluminum, Steel

Slatted Wall Sconce
By Lightolier
Located in Sagaponack, NY
An expressive and unusual wall light having two floating v-shaped walnut slats separated by a lacquered brass strip projecting horizontally from a ...
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Lightolier Furniture

Materials

Brass, Steel

Slatted Wall Sconce
Slatted Wall Sconce
H 6.5 in W 20 in D 5 in
Tri-Color Tripod Desk Lamp by Gerald Thurston
By Lightolier, Gerald Thurston
Located in Sagaponack, NY
An exceptional table lamp with a brass tripod base supporting three shades of black, red and cream.
Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Lightolier Furniture

Materials

Brass

Torchieres by Lightolier
By Lightolier, Paavo Tynell
Located in Sagaponack, NY
An uncommon and sculptural pair of brass torchieres having pedestal bases, distinctive knobs housing the switches, and conical hoods embellished with pin-hole perforations.
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Lightolier Furniture

Materials

Brass

Torchieres by Lightolier
Torchieres by Lightolier
H 59 in Dm 10 in
Wall Sconce By Lightolier
By Lightolier
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A rare wall sconce with a perforated tube core surrounded by a solid tube shade. Original white and black paint. Original Lightolier sticker and stamped "C529A".
Category

1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Lightolier Furniture

Materials

Steel

clear globe chandelier by Lightolier
By Lightolier
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A clear globe chandelier with an eight (8) socket 'floating' chrome cylinder and finish.
Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Lightolier Furniture

Materials

Chrome, Steel

Lightolier furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

Lightolier furniture are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of metal and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Lightolier furniture, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original furniture by Lightolier were created in the mid-century modern style in north america during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider furniture by Gordon & Jane Martz, Laurel Lamp Company, and Marshall Studios. Prices for Lightolier furniture can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $175 and can go as high as $20,000, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $2,000.
Questions About Lightolier Furniture
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Lightolier was founded in 1904 by Bernhard Blitzer and the name is a combination of the words “light” and “chandelier.” Lightolier specializes in elaborate and decorative chandeliers, but they also produce a style of lamps that combine functionality with a lively aesthetic. Browse a collection of Lightolier lamps on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Yes, Lightolier is still in business. Founded in 1904 and made popular by its electric lighting designs, Lightolier, a contraction of the words light and chandelier, can still be found in stores today. You can also shop Lightolier goods from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.

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